Chairman’s Report 2013
In my efforts to update you on what has happened since last year’s AGM, I will hopefully not forget any of the voluntary work done by you. If I omit anyone, please accept my apologies.
This season just ended is the first step in what I expect to be the start of a very exciting time for the Premier side. With a blend of experience from the senior players and the wealth of talent coming through from the youths we can all look forward to Wayne delivering the titles New Ross Celtic has become accustomed to winning. Well done to all the Premier players and to Wayne and John for finishing well up the table, in fourth place, and reaching the quarter finals of the Leinster Junior Cup, in the first year of Management. Thanks to everyone who supported them throughout the year, home and away.
Well done to John Ryan and all theDiv 2A players.It is a difficult division to retain position and it came right down to the last week of the season before the team was safe.
The entry of a team in Div5 was a popular development and with very hard work, the determination and considerable amount of skill the squad, under Keith Dalton’s leadership, outstripped everyone’s expectation – even their own – to win the League Title and reach the Gwyn Jones Cup Final. Joint best defence in the entire League but with the best goal difference. Well done everyone!
The Youth team finished runners up in the Premier Youth Division having just missed out by the finest of margins. They also played in the SFAI Cup. Well done to the players, to manager Bryan Mullet and his support.
The Horse and Hound Player of the Year for Div5 and Premier Youths was won by Martin O’Sullivan and Eoin Rhodes and are among the highlights for Celtic players this year.
At the End of Season Presentation Night, Eoin Rhodes and Donnacha O'Connor were acknowledged by the Club with special awards for their contribution to Wexford’s All Ireland Youth Inter League win.
The Third Team were presented with their Division5 League winning medals to add to their 2013 Gwyn Jones Cup runner up medals. Youth Team were presented with their Runners-Up league medals.
Presentations and congratulations to the Club Player of the Year, Eoin Rhodes (Premier), James Barron (Div2A), Paul O’Leary (Div5) and Donnacha O’Connor (Youths)
And toTop Goalscorers, Eoin Rhodes (Premier) Keith Katus (Div 2A), Mark Lee (Div5) and Eoin Rhodes (Youths).
A note of thanks to all in Spiders for looking after us on the Presentation Night. The development upstairs should prove a winner for him.
Thanks and Congratulations to all the School Section Team Managers, Coaches and Players:
u10 Manager Keeley Clayden and Gavin Kelly in the non competitive league with close to 30 players catered for.
u11 A Manager Ger Feeney and Kasper Gedka’s Teamsin winning the Div1 League and the u11B finishing 3rd in their League
u12 Manager Ger Feeney’s Team winning Div2 League and reaching the u12 Cup Final
u13 Team finished 2nd in Div 2 with Phily O’Connor as Manager, and he also led the u14 Team to silverware when they won the u14 Cup.
u15 were managed by Colm Duffy and the u16 Team was guided by Andrew Foran and Ben Duffy to finish 2nd in League Div 1 and reach the Final of the u15 Cup.
The Schoolboy players on representative squads include:
Thomas O’Connor to the Kennedy Cup squad
Anthony O’Connor and Joseph Lawal to the u12 Emerging Talent Programme
Sean Duffy to the u15 Emerging Talent Programme
Eoin Cummins and Jack Foran to the u16 Emerging Talent Programme (Best Wishes and a speedy recovering to Jack from injury)
Sean Duffy to the u16 Irish Squad
Sean Duffy and Thomas O’Connor are on the u15 Regional Emerging Talent Programme
Cian O’Donoghue and Eoin Rhodes are on the u17 Regional Emerging Talent Programme
Sean Duffy starred in the Irish Jersey when the Republic of Ireland played a challenge game.
And we are expecting more exciting developing in the near future for our young stars.
Well done to one and all and to all who support the teams, specially the parents who travel to away games.
Soccer Saturday has continued to be a great success. Under the guiding hand of Jo Fahey and Martin O’Sullivan the programme is going from strength to strength with all participants and coaches thoroughly enjoying the development. Congratulations to Jo, Martin, Deci, Paul, Karen, Keith and John Ryan.
The Soccer Schools Programmevisit and coach in some of the local National Schools.This was an innovative concept and New Ross Celtic can be proud of the work done, thanks to Ger Feeney, Phily O’Connor andBen Dufy who travel to Glenmore N.S. Cushingtown NS and CBNS New Ross to give of their time to coach and to develop soccer in the wider New Ross District.
‘Soccer for Ladies’on Wednesdays evenings at 7pm.
Thisslot on the AllWeather Courts is set aside for women who want tolearn and enjoy the non competitive element of soccer. So pass on the word, all are welcome. Show up and check it out and when you see how much fun it is, talk to Ger for all the details. Thanks Ger!
The ‘Monthly Club Newsletter’ is also proving a huge success with the New Ross public as they share in the Clubs development and success. Well done to Martin and all those who contribute articles and photos and to the Sponsors who support its printing.
The Lotto Grant application was one of only a small percentage that made the second stage of the process but even then only three Wexford Soccer Clubs received grant aid but New Ross Celtic was not one. The Depts telephone number has been unmanned since the announcement.
Telecommunication company Shared Accesshas gone into hibernation and they have no plans to progress their scheme until there is an upturn in the economy.
Thanks to; Packie, Frankie and Peter O’Neill who keep the pitches in great condition and the envy of the county. The Club purchased a new linemarker and the wider white line complements the great condition of the pitches.
Facility work done during the year includes the completion of the fence at back of goal and it looks fantastic when you drive in the gate. Thanks to Peter O’Neill, with help from Tommie Lee, Paul O‘Leary. Packie O’Neill, Bryan Mullet, Frankie O’Neill and John Ryan and others. Clubhouse paint work done by Martin O’Sullivan, Tommie Lee, Bryan Mullet, Paul O’Leary, Packie O’Neill and Peter O’Neill. Thanks to Gappy and Davy for supplying transport for moving equipment and material.
The Club played host to Oscar Traynor and Cup Semi Final games and thanks to all who helped on the Gate and with catering, organising and cleanup afterwards.
Planned work for the summer is the sanding and verti drainage of both pitches. The committee is also in the process of purchasing a DeFibulator and appropriate training.
Thanks to Martin O’Sullivan, the Web Master, for a greatwebsite and to all who contribute reports and photos – Win, loose or draw, keep sending them in! It’s a great way for all associated with the Club, near or far, home and abroad to keep up with what’s happening in the Club. And remind your friends to sign up for automatic updates and they will be emailed when something new is uploaded on the site.
Thanks to all who manage and contribute to the Club Facebookas it reaches 2,500 to 3,500 views every week. Contribution from Martin O’Sullivan, Ger Feeney, Jo Fahey, John Waters, Bryan Mullet, Phily O’Connor and Aaron Deegan keeps the Celtic Facebook ‘friends’ well informed.
The Committee passed the awarding of Honorary Membership to Packie O’Neill for his contribution to the Club over the life of the Club.
The Special General Meeting called to consider changes to the Constitution agreed to make two changes; the correction to the number of Club Trustees and the inclusion of the School Boy&Girl Section.
Thanks to Dick Butler and to all who performed and supported the ‘Hang Up Your Boots’ dance challenge and such was its huge success the show will go on..... again.
I would like to thank the Committee for all their time, work and support during the year. It has been a challenging year and the Club has been well served by every one of them; from playing, managing teams, to carrying out maintenance, supervising the courts, fundraising as well the administration and keeping the Club on the straight and narrow. I thank you one and all.
Jo Fahey, Dick Butler, Ger Feeney, Martin O’Sullivan, Dick Brazil, Bryan Mullet, Aaron Deegan, Phily O’Connor, John Ryan, Keith Dalton and Wayne Russell.
A huge word of thanks to our Sponsors for their continued support, specially Cedarwood, Euro Fuels and Barrow Veterinary Hospital and all our other sponsors, as can be seen on Club Website Your support is greatly appreciated and we wish you every success in the future.
Thanks also to the Supporters who attend home and away games to support the teams and to the partners and families for allowing them to spend time at the Club.
On behalf of the Club, I offer condolences to all the families on the loss of loved ones during the year, including the Malone Family, the Fahey Family and the O’Connor Family, and to those who may have anniversaries around this time.
I hope you will allow meto mention Anthony ‘Drac’ O’Connor and the sadness we all felt when we heard of his passing at the end of last season. He was a great player and teammate and we can take comfort that we had the privilege to play with him or watch him play. I hope we can take inspiration from his performances for Celtic and by remembering him we will keep his memory alive. May he Rest in Peace.
Best Wishes to everyone as you enjoy a hard earned break before you prepare for the coming season.
I wish the incoming Committee, Managers and Players every success in the new season.
Yours in Sport,
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Raymond Farrell.
Chairman